Seriously, how many frets do you use?

Someone already said it; I will use what is there. When playing a vintage 21 fret neck I miss being able to hit the high D. As I move up the neck, especially past the 15th fret, low note strings drop off and I will focus on the high note strings. I do own one 24 fret PRS guitar that gets occasional use and does great for getting the high E note for certain solos. All said, my main guitar is a Nocaster, vintage fat neck and 21 frets.

 

Don't play too high unless the song calls for it. I am capable of playing way up but you need a guitar that has good access. Only have one guitar that has 24 frets but my big fat fingers have trouble past 21 or 22 on that one. Which is why I prefer 22 fret instruments.

 

All of them!

 

I just bought a Tele with a 22 fret neck and that little ledge of maple that juts out preventing me from removing the pick guard without loosening the neck bolts has been so infuriating it’s got to me asking the same dang question.

 

I play lead in our band, so I actually use 21 or 22 frets. However, when I’m in territory above the 17th or 19th fret, which isn’t often, it’s at the end of a riff on the high E or B string and I bend those notes up. I don’t actually play riffs or runs at that point, but I do use those frets. I had an L4 years ago which only had 20 frets and it was awkward. Loved that guitar, but couldn’t really use it with my current band. 21 frets is my minimum requirement these days, 22 is my preference. I don’t care for 24 fret guitars that much, but they do allow for playing in the upper register without any interference from the neck heel. but even when I’m jamming with my buddy’s Brian Moore, I never actually “play” on those last 2 frets. I tend to get confused on a 24 fret guitar because I’m not used to the positioning.

 

Potentially, all frets.
Above the octave, all except the last few frets on the low E, A and D strings.
But, I will use them to complete a run/passage if it is necessary.
(There's a definite "vibe" up there in that area of the fretboard."

 

Most people I know who have them say it just means easier access to the 21st or 22nd frets. I have a friend who actually plays on the 23rd and 24th frets; he’s a great player. It’s not for me.

 

What he said!

 

All of them and sometimes above the board. If I really need more I pull out My Ibanez JAM with the monkey grip.

 

12, 15 at the most occasionally.

 

I guess if you look at your fret wear you might be able to chart out some statistics.

 

I think of it more about what key centers in that second octave are useful and still sound good. I rarely play chords beyond the 17th fret, but for solos I'd guess on occasion I may go up to 22 on the E & B strings, 20 on the G string, 19 on the D & A strings and prefer to stay 17 or lower on the low E. But the main criteria is whether the notes sound good being played there with my sausage fingers and I will avoid the upper frets as much as possible. I hardly ever play predetermined solos, so I usually have the option to drop back down into a lower range if I find myself in a "these notes sound like crap" or "it's hard to maneuver in these fret spaces" area of the neck. Also, I don't use a lot of distortion, so notes (especially on the lower strings) played too high on the neck can sound plunky and plinky and just plain bad.

 

Honestly? I'd say most of us spend 80% of our time between the 3rd and 12th fret. Trying to play clean on the increasingly tight spaces beyond that with large hands isn't terribly rewarding. I rarely go past the 17th. It could be worse, the joke among bluegrassers is; "There ain't money past the 3rd fret".

 

I’m more interested in something like this than wailing up there

 

I'll use every fret available for solos and routinely incorporate chord work into our songs up the 17th. But you need a high quality set-up if you want those chords to chime which is a pain when I play on friends' gear.

 

With the pickup selector at the bridge position I play up the neck and past it including playing my neck pickup as a fret so to speak. So I use all of it and more....

 

Use as many frets as you can! Dust off that axe and try using frets you don't normally. Try some of your favorite licks in a new set of frets. (Watch a Steve Morse solo online and wish you could use all the frets he does.) If you're wondering which frets you use the most of, examine your finger board wear in good light. Also look at your strings - they get flat spots where they touch the frets. Please Note: if you start to see this kind of worn areas in strings and fingerboard it's probably time for a little cleaning and change of strings. Maybe a little bridge or neck adjustment too. Keep challenging yourself playing or it will no longer be a joy.

 

As many as play in tune.

Most of the old fenders I’ve played won’t play in tune much above 12 or 15
On a 24 fret tele I noticed that you could get a super high G fretting between the two pick up bars on the neck Barden pick up. I thought that was kind of cool. I told my friend Danny Gatton that and after he got done laughing he stole it from me.

I owned a 24 fret carvin telecaster for a while. That was remarkably in tune guitar. I like playing up to the 24 th fret .
like somebody earlier said it does repeat itself at 12.
Problem with the Carvin was that even with Bardens on it it didn’t sound that great

 

How do you bend a neck? Thanks!

 

I use up to fret 17 maybe 60% of the time. Certainly not for chordal purposes, LOL. Even with slide playing I rarely go up above 15. Truth is those tones are squawky and squeaky and who the hell needs them. I like fat mid-range tones and twangy notes with substance. I have always concerned myself with the melodies one can improvise during a lead excursion and not the timbre of the notes played. Hey, but each to his or her own, but you asked so I replied.